Local Self-government in European Countries: General Characteristics, Comparison and Ukrainian Realities

This article is written to provide a general overview of the concept and principles of local self-government, in particular its role in the context of interaction with the central government. In addition, the article analyzes the features of local self-government in three EU member states and Ukraine. The leading scientific method used in the study is the formal-legal method, which allows the author to trace the relationship between the internal content and external expression (form) of state-legal phenomena and institutions. The author also seeks to apply the best European practices of local self-government to Ukraine.